Soda habits are difficult to conquer because sugar and high fructose corn syrup are addictive. However, if you really want to feel good again, being hooked on soda is something you want to break for good!

High amounts of sugar and high fructose corn syrup are known to cause widespread inflammation in the body, resulting in chronic or even fatal diseases, such as diabetes, heart and circulatory challenges, and cancer.

It’s possible to break free from this unhealthy habit with a few key strategies!

Soda isn’t an easy temptation to resist, but you can prevail!

7 Strategies To Kick Your Soda Addiction

Evaluate your soda habit.
How often do you reach for your favorite pop drink? Do you have it with every meal and snack?The first step is to evaluate how much soda you actually drink. Some clients are amazed at how much sugar they take in by drinking soda. Once you are aware of how much you are drinking, then you can try some of the remaining strategies.

Eat some lean protein or nuts.
Sometimes when we crave sodas or sugar, your body is screaming for something to balance itself out. Try eating some lean protein or some nuts. Drink a large glass of water, and see if that urge to down a Big Gulp lessens. Your body is always trying to balance itself and if you’ve haven’t been eating right, those cravings can start pushing hard!!

Start eliminating soda gradually.
Yes, some people go “cold turkey” and feel that was best, but unless the rest of your life is well-balanced, that can be a really tough road. Then you may end up drinking even more soda or having an all-out sugar binge! And don’t opt for the sugar-free varieties. There are so many really bad health risks to the artificial sweeteners (another topic for another day). Don’t swap one bad habit for another.

Find tasty alternatives.The caffeine in the soda may also be part of the addiction — you need a lift and that combo of sugar and caffeine does the trick!So perhaps try an iced black tea, or some other drink that may give you some caffeine without all the added sugar. Experiment with other options and come up with some substitutions that work for you. Then have that handy so when you would normally grab a soda, you have something else available. Gradually increase those options while you decrease the soda.

Drink more water!
You’ve probably heard that a thousand times, but our bodies need good water. How much to drink? Take your weight and divide that in half. That’s the number of ounces of water you can start with. So if you weigh 160 lbs, half of that is 80. 80 ounces is 10 8-ounce glasses of water.Don’t like the taste of water? Add fresh fruit, lemons, limes, grapefruit, a few slices of peaches. Avoid the powdery mixes as they are usually loaded with additives and preservatives. Or you can choose an unsweetened carbonated water with lemon. Have fun experimenting with this and find your favorite.

What triggers you to reach for a soda?Are you stressed, hungry, or thirsty when you start to reach for a soda? Get curious about when you “need” that soda fix.When you go out for lunch, do you always order a soda? Do you start your day with soda? Look for what happens when you go for that drink.

Not motivated enough yet? Learn the facts.
High sugar and soda consumption has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. Those you are probably aware of. When I was diagnosed with cancer, I started doing even more research and learned that cancer feeds on sugar. Sugar and sweet drinks can also have a negative impact on your bones. It causes all sorts of problems. Just do a Google search for “dangers of sugary drinks” and you’ll see many, many links.Check out an article on WebMD about Soda and Your Health: Risks Debated here.

You can overcome a soda habit by first becoming aware of how much and how often you reach for sodas or something sweet. Then start by making simple changes. Those simple changes build on each other so you can finally release that sweet addiction. If you have questions or need more help, please contact me. I offer a free complimentary discovery session and I’d be happy to explore how you can kick your sugar habit.